Protective glove liner for use in athletics

ABSTRACT

A protective inner athletic glove for use with an outer athletic glove. The inner athletic glove includes a glove body including a moisture wicking, elastic fabric material for covering at least a portion of a user&#39;s hand and one or more protective barrier layers attached to an outer surface of the glove body, the one or more protective barrier layers comprising a material to reduce a coefficient of friction between the glove body and an inner surface of an outer athletic glove.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.13/539,895, filed Jul. 2, 2012, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/504,912, filed on Jul. 6, 2011. Theentire teachings of the above application(s) are incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND

Sporting activities requiring use of implements such as bats, clubs,sticks, bars, oars or racquets often subject participants to verypainful injuries to the hand, which manifest in the form of blisters,contusions, and lesions. Many gloves designed to prevent injuries ofthis type are not effective in providing adequate protection to thewearer when exposed to the vigorous practice regimens required by manyof today's athletes.

SUMMARY

The technology described herein relates to protective glove liners. Theembodiments described herein provide a dramatic improvement to theability of a glove to prevent skin surface injuries by providing asecondary barrier layer underneath the traditional leather gloves wornduring sporting activities. This glove is considered a glove liner in asmuch as it is designed to be worn with and work in concert with an outerglove. It is designed to provide a barrier between the inner surface ofa leather glove and the surface of the skin, reducing the effects offriction on the skin created between the hand and the implement. Theglove liner is made from moisture wicking fabric which reduces theamount of moisture on the skin by adding a wicking barrier that willchannel the perspiration outward into the outer glove away from theskin.

One benefit the embodiments described is to provide a layering glovedesigned to be worn underneath an outer glove to provide addedprotection to specific parts of the hand when using an implement tostrike or lift an object during sports activities.

Another benefit of the embodiments described is to provide amoisture-wicking layer between the skin and outer glove to reduce amountof perspiration between the skin and outer glove.

Another benefit of the embodiments described is to reduce the amount offrictional force applied directly to the skin when striking or liftingan object with an implement such as a bat, club, stick, racquet, pole,or bar during sports activity.

Another benefit of the embodiments described is to dissipate the amountof pressure applied directly to the skin when striking or lifting anobject with an implement such as a bat, club, stick, racquet, pole, orbar during sports activity.

Another benefit of the embodiments described is to provide atight-fitting, pliable, stretch-knit, inner layering glove made frompolyester, nylon, Lycra®, or other similar synthetic fibers for addedcomfort.

Another benefit of the embodiments described is to provide a slightamount of compression to the hand and wrist for added support duringsports activity.

Another benefit of the embodiments described is that it can be wornwith, and function in concert with an outer glove without interferingwith the outer glove's performance.

Another benefit of the embodiments described is to allow aplayer/participant to practice longer without risk of early fatigue orsoreness.

Another benefit of the embodiments described is to also afford addedprotection to the skin using more or less padding as preferred by thewearer, based on his/her specific needs.

One embodiment is a protective inner athletic glove for use with anouter athletic glove. The inner athletic glove includes a glove bodyincluding a moisture wicking, elastic fabric material for covering atleast a portion of a user's hand. The inner athletic glove includes oneor more protective barrier layers attached to an outer surface of theglove body, the one or more protective barrier layers comprising amaterial to reduce a coefficient of friction between the glove body andan inner surface of an outer athletic glove.

In some embodiments, the moisture wicking, elastic fabric material hasan inner surface in contact with the user's hand, wherein the innersurface has a frictional coefficient rating that reduces frictionbetween the inner athletic glove and the user's hand. In someembodiments, the glove body includes one or more appendages for coveringat least a portion of one or more fingers of the user's hand. In someembodiments, the one or more protective barrier layers are attached tothe outer surface of the glove body to form a pocket.

In some embodiments, the inner athletic glove includes a padding layerlocated in the pocket of the glove body. In some embodiments, the pocketincludes an opening allowing for a padding layer to be placed into orremoved from the pocket. In some embodiments, the moisture wicking,elastic synthetic fabric material wicks moisture away from the user'shand.

One embodiment is a protective inner glove for use with an outer glove.The inner glove includes a glove body including a moisture wicking,elastic fabric material for covering at least a portion of a user'shand. The inner glove includes one or more protective barrier layersattached to an outer surface of the glove body, the one or moreprotective barrier layers comprising a material to reduce a coefficientof friction between the glove body and an inner surface of an outerglove.

Other aspects and advantages of the current invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, illustrating the principles of theinvention by way of example only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of various embodiments of the invention will bemore readily understood by reference to the following detaileddescriptions in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic palm view of a glove liner with barrier patchconfigured for use when swinging a baseball or softball bat, accordingto an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 2( a) is a schematic view of a barrier patch for a glove linerdesigned for use when swinging a baseball or softball bat, according toan illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 2( b) is a schematic view of the interior (inner surface) of thepalm in a glove liner designed for use when swinging a baseball orsoftball bat, according to an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 2( c) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a 3 mm barrier padwhich can be inserted into the patch pocket of a glove liner designedfor use when swinging a baseball or softball bat, according to anillustrative embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic palm view of the left hand illustrating possiblebarrier patch locations on glove liners designed for hockey, golf,lacrosse, cricket, weight training, or rowing, according to anillustrative embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic palm view of the right hand illustrating possiblebarrier patch locations on glove liners designed for hockey, golf,lacrosse, cricket, weight training, or rowing, according to anillustrative embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic back of hand view showing location of adjustableclosure and cuff, according to an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a schematic palm view and back of hand view of a glove linerdesigned for use when swinging a baseball or softball bat, shown in usewith a typical leather batting glove designed for baseball or softball,according to an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments described include a glove liner designed to be worn on thehand, having a back, two sides, palm, and may or may not includeappendages. The glove liner extends past the wearer's wrist to the lowerforearm. The glove liner is made using a material that is a thin,pliable, fabric. Exemplary materials used to fabricate the liner includepolyester, nylon, Lycra, or any similar material that provides a fitsnug to the skin, and is highly elastic. A secondary protective barrierlayer is added to specific locations of the palm or appendages of theglove liner that are exposed to a high level of pressure and frictionwhen using implements such as bats, clubs, sticks, poles, or bars duringsports activities. This barrier layer includes a woven nylon or similarmaterial, having a relatively low frictional coefficient rating (e.g.,0.20 or less). Reducing the amount of friction between the inner surfaceof a glove and the skin provides an increased level of comfort, andreduces damage sustained by the hand during rigorous athletic activity(e.g., reduces blisters and abrasions). This barrier layer patch isattached (e.g., permanently) to the body of the glove liner on threesides, with a fourth side not permanently sealed, forming a pocket, toaccommodate additional protective material such as a neoprene, ethylenevinyl acetate, polystyrene, polyethylene pad, or other closed cellmaterial, which may be inserted underneath the barrier layer. Theadditional padding acts to reduce the amount of direct pressure appliedto the surface of the hand, providing an additional layer of protectionand comfort. In some embodiments, the thickness of this additionalpadding can range from 2 mm to 12.7 mm, allowing the wearer to choosethe desired level of protection and comfort specific to their needs. Theinterchangeable pad can be inserted beneath the barrier layer patch viathe open edge, and can be removed the same way if desired.

Materials used in conventional gloves are designed to enhance grip moreso than to protect the surface of the hand. The primary material used inconventional gloves is leather; constructed in a thin, tight fittingmanner, with the inner surface of the leather being unfinished, and notas smooth as the exterior surface. This is important to point out sinceit is the inner surface of the glove that actually contacts the skin.

Some gloves include padding, permanently affixed and strategicallylocated to prevent damage to the hand from external contact. Having thispadding sewn into the exterior surface of the glove in the palm, wrist,and finger regions is ineffective in reducing the amount of frictionalforce applied to the skin by the inner surface of the glove material, asthe glove simply moves across the skin under the force of the implement.Nowhere is this more evident than in the sport of hockey, where glovesexhibiting massive amounts of padding still fail to provide adequateprotection against blisters and surface damage to ones hands.

Keeping the hands free from excess moisture is another key component topreventing the development of skin surface injuries. Leather absorbs andretains moisture, keeping the surface of the skin exposed to a highlevel of perspiration thus contributing to the development of skinsurface injuries.

FIGS. 1, 2(a)-2(c), 3, 4, 5, and 6 illustrate how the various componentsof a protective glove liner 10 can be configured and worn to provideenhanced protection to specific regions of the hand that experience ahigh level of friction and pressure during sports activities utilizingimplements such as bats, clubs, sticks, poles, bars, oars, or racquets.

This glove liner 10 comprises a moisture wicking, stretch syntheticfabric, and is configured to be worn underneath leather gloves specificto sports activities. The glove liner 10 includes 600-1000 denier wovennylon barrier pockets 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 211, 22strategically placed for added protection from friction and pressurewhich occurs when using implements in sports activities.

The sport-specific regions of the hand needing additional protectioninclude, but are not limited to:

-   -   baseball/softball—fingerless glove liner featuring barrier patch        location 12;    -   golf—half finger on index, fingerless elsewhere featuring        barrier patch location 12 and 22;    -   hockey—half finger throughout with barrier patch locations 12,        13, 14, 15, and 22;    -   lacrosse—half finger throughout with barrier patch locations 12,        13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22;    -   tennis—fingerless glove liner with barrier patch locations 12,        14, and 22;    -   rowing—half finger throughout with barrier patch locations 12,        14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21;    -   weight training—fingerless throughout with barrier patch        locations 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18;    -   cricket—fingerless throughout with barrier patch locations 12,        13, 14, and 22.

In one embodiment, the glove liner is made of a polyester/Lycra(spandex) blended fabric. Lycra is a lightweight, breathable fabric thatuses compression to fit closely to the body. in comparison, mostathletic gloves are made of various forms of leather, which also offer asnug fit initially, but which stretches over time and is prone totearing. The Lycra blended fabric allows the glove liner 10 to becontinually stretched (e.g., up to 100 times its original size) andreturn to its original form. It is also highly resistant to tearing dueto the highly elastic property of the fabric.

Leather gloves, such as that cited in Webster's patent U.S. Pat. No.4,748,690 absorb moisture and have a very high moisture retention rate,keeping a moisture layer present between the inner surface of the gloveand surface of the skin. Embodiments of the glove liner described hereinare designed to enhance “moisture wicking” (transport of moisture awayfrom the skin) from the skin to the outer glove providing a barrierbetween the inner surface of the outer glove and ones skin, reducing theamount of moisture present on the skin. The presence of moisture wouldotherwise facilitate the creation of blisters and other skin surfaceinjuries.

Webster's glove is designed with non cushions for the purpose ofdampening impact on ones hand when catching a thrown or batted ball. Itdoes not address the issue associated with injuries caused by repetitivefrictional pressure when swinging, lifting, rowing, throwing, orotherwise using an implement such as abut, club, racquet, bar, pole, oroar in sports activities. Webster's glove does not, nor is it intendedto, reduce/prevent the occurrence of blisters or abrasions caused byfriction and pressure, but instead acts to reduce/prevent bruising andother deep tissue injuries resulting from catching a thrown or battedball, and is intended to be worn underneath a baseball/softball glovedesigned for catching, not a batting glove designed for hitting a ball.

The glove liner 10 described herein is made primarily ofmoisture-wicking fabric, for example, comprising a blend of polyesterand spandex/Lycra, with ballistic nylon patches located in areas of thehand where one would experience a high occurrence of friction andpressure while using an implement such as a bat, club, racquet, bar,pole, or oar during sports activities. The glove liner 10 is constructedusing a recessed or flat stitch process on all contact points in thepalm and interior surface of the fingers to eliminate the possibility ofthe stitching protruding from the exterior surface of the glove causingirritation, and enhance the level of comfort. Interior stitching such asthat along the outer edges of both the hand and fingers is of a typicalsingle run-stitch manufacturing process, and the finger/thumb openingsfeature a doubling over and stitching of the fabric to increasestrength/durability in these high stress areas. An adjustable arm band,with a Velcro-type closure is sewn into the cuff of the glove linerallowing the wearer to customize the glove liners fit to theirappropriate comfort level. Areas designated for added protection wouldinclude: Hypothenar—outer third of the palm opposite the thumb (12), thecrease of the palm to the thumb and index finger covering the distal andproximal palmar (13), lower half of the thumb's interior surface (14),metacarpophalangeal joints of each finger in the palm region (15, 16,17, 18), interior lower third of each finger between themetacarpophalangeal joint in palm and the proximal interphalangealcrease (19, 20, 21, 22). The designated areas needing additionalprotection are covered by a patch of woven ballistic nylon (e.g., noless than 600 denier in thickness) with palm patches (12 and 13) havinga pocket located on the interior of the glove liner to accommodateadditional padding (see, FIGS. 2( b) and 2(c)), if desired. Thisadditional padding provides added protection to areas exposed toexceptional levels of friction and pressure when using an implement suchas abut, club, racquet, bar, pole, or oar during sports activities.Webster's design is focused solely on protecting the hand from injuriessustained when catching a thrown or batted ball, and does nothing morethan any other glove to reduce friction on the skin.

FIG. 2( a) is a schematic view of a barrier patch 40 for a glove linerdesigned for use when swinging a baseball or softball bat, according toan illustrative embodiment. FIG. 2( b) is a schematic view of theinterior 44 (inner surface) of the palm in the glove liner of FIG. 2(a), FIG. 2( c) is a schematic cross-sectional view of a 3 mm barrier pad48 which can be inserted into the patch pocket 46 of the glove liner ofFIG. 2( b).

In this embodiment, protective barrier patch (12) is designed to coverthe hypothenar region of the palm, with the top of the patchapproximately 3 cm below the palmar digital crease of the small finger,extending from the outer edge of the palm inward toward the center ofthe palm 5 cm, with a height of 6 cm, and width at the bottom of thepatch of 6 cm. Exemplary dimensions of the protective barrier patchlocated in the palm covering the distal and proximal palmar region (13)is 8 cm wide and 3 cm high (see Table 1).

TABLE 1 Exemplary patch sizes Patch No. Width (cm) Height (cm) 12 5 6 138 3 14 2.5 3 15 2 2 16 2 2 17 2 2 18 2 2 19 2 2 20 1.8 2 21 1.8 2 22 2 2

The glove liner is configured to be worn with and work in concert withouter athletic gloves to reduce friction/pressure to key parts of thehand when using implements such as bats, clubs, sticks, poles, racquets,bars, or oars, during sports activities.

Patch 12 reduces friction/pressure to the hypothenar region of the palm,beginning just above the wrist crease and extending upward to the distalpalmar, and from the outer edge of the palm inward to the thenar regionof the palm.

Patch 13 reduces friction/pressure to the upper palm area with the loweredge running along the proximal palmar, and the upper edge covering thedistal palmer, extending from interior edge of the palm between thethumb and index finger inward to just past the exterior edge of the ringfinger.

Patch 14 reduces friction/pressure to the interior region of theproximal phalanx of the thumb, beginning just above the basilar joint,extending upward to just below the metacarpophalangeal joint andpositioned to cover the interior surface of this region.

Patch 15 reduces friction/pressure to the metacarpophaleangeal (MCP)region of the index finger, beginning at the proximal palmar, extendingupward to just below the proximal phalanx (palmar digital) crease, withthe width of the patch extending lcm in both directions from a verticalcenterline through the MCP joint of the index finger.

Patch 16 reduces friction/pressure to the MCP region of the middlefinger, with the top of the patch located just below the palmar digitalcrease of the middle finger extending downward 2 cm, and outward lcm inboth directions from a vertical centerline through the MCP joint of themiddle finger.

Patch 17 reduces friction/pressure to the MCP region of the ring finger,with the top of the patch located just below the palmar digital creaseof the ring finger extending downward 2 cm, and outward in bothdirections lcm from a centerline through the MCP joint of the ringfinger.

Patch 18 reduces friction/pressure to the MCP region of the smallfinger, with the top of the patch just below the palmar digital creaseof the small finger extending downward 2 cm, and outward in bothdirections 1 cm from a centerline through the MCP joint of the smallfinger.

Patch 19 reduces friction/pressure to the proximal phalangeal region ofthe small finger, with the top of the patch located just below theproximal interphalangeal crease of the small finger, extending downwardto just above the palmar digital crease and outward 1 cm in bothdirections from a vertical centerline of the proximal phalanx of thesmall finger.

Patch 20 reduces friction/pressure to the proximal phalanx region of thering finger, with the top of the patch located just below the proximalinterphalangeal crease, extending downward to just above the palmardigital crease, and outward 1 cm in both directions from a verticalcenterline of the proximal phalanx of the ring finger.

Patch 21 reduces friction/pressure to the proximal phalanx region of themiddle finger, with the top of the patch located just below the proximalinterphalangeal crease, extending downward to just above the palmardigital crease, and outward 1 cm in both directions from a verticalcenterline of the proximal phalanx of the ring finger.

Patch 22 reduces friction/pressure to the proximal phalanx region of theindex finger, with the top of the patch located just below the proximalinterphalangeal crease, extending downward to just above the palmardigital crease, and outward 1 cm in both directions from a verticalcenterline of the proximal phalanx of the index finger.

The glove liner 10 has a sleeve extending from the hand past the wristto the lower forearm region which the same moisture wickingpolyester/spandex (Lycra) fabric. This compression fabric provides addedcomfort not only to the hand but also added support to the wrist andlower forearm region. The sleeve portion of this glove liner includes anadjustable strap closure featuring a hook and loop fabric allowing easewhen putting the glove liner on or removing it.

Injuries resulting from excessive friction and pressure to on ones hand,when using an implement such as bat, club, stick, bar, pole, racquet, oroar during sporting activities, typically come in the form of ablistering of the skin. The size and severity of the injury will varyfrom case to case, but the most common injury is typically the size of aquarter, and can be very painful, much of the time requiring medicalattention. In severe instances subsurface tissue damage occurs leavingthe individual with permanent scarring and discomfort. While there aremany leather gloves on the market designed to limit damage, none providethe moisture wicking and friction resistance effects this glove lineraffords the wearer.

FIG. 6 is a schematic palm view 60 and back of hand view 64 of a gloveliner 68 designed for use when swinging a baseball or softball bat,shown in use with a typical leather batting glove 72 designed forbaseball or softball, according to an illustrative embodiment The innerglover liner 68 includes patch 12 to reduce friction/pressure to thehypothenar region of the palm, beginning just above the wrist crease andextending upward to the distal palmar, and from the outer edge of thepalm inward to the thenar region of the palm. In an effort to testviability and effectiveness, one embodiment of the glove liner wastested on two subjects. In both cases, after more than 100 swings of abaseball/softball bat, using this liner underneath the subject's leatherbatting glove, there was no ill effect to the palm. Both of theseparticipants had a history of getting palm blisters when going throughthis type of hitting regiment, using only a leather batting gloves, inthe past.

Comprise, include, and/or plural forms of each are open ended andinclude the listed parts and can include additional parts that are notlisted. And/or is open ended and includes one or more of the listedparts and combinations of the listed parts.

One skilled in the art will realize the invention may be embodied inother specific forms without departing from the spirit or essentialcharacteristics thereof. Various alternative implementations are withinthe scope of the invention. The technology described can be implementedon or with gloves that are not only for athletic use. In someimplementations, both the inner and outer gloves are not athleticgloves. The foregoing embodiments are therefore to be considered in allrespects illustrative rather than limiting of the invention describedherein. Scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims,rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes that comewithin the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are thereforeintended to be embraced therein.

1. A method comprising: providing an inner athletic glove comprising: aglove body including a moisture wicking, elastic fabric material forcovering at least a portion of a user's hand; at least one protectivebarrier layer attached to an outer surface of the glove body at alocation specific to a sport being played by the user, the at least oneprotective barrier layer comprising a material having a low coefficientof friction; placing the hand into the inner athletic glove resulting ina gloved hand; placing the gloved hand into the outer athletic glove sothat the at least one protective barrier of the inner athletic glovecontacts an inner surface of the outer athletic glove and reducesfriction between the user's hand and the inner surface of the outerathletic glove.